– The Romney jobs numbers are starting to trickle out and we know now why Romney is focusing on his private sector experience instead of his time as Governor of Massachusetts. Romney created as many jobs in four years as Michael Dukakis created in each of his years as Governor of Massachusetts. So, let's pay not attention to that – or something like that.

– The fallout continues over Rick Perry bailing on the DeMint forum to get home to Texas due to the wildfires. Yesterday's fires were the most destructive single day of fires in Texas history with more homes destroyed in one day than at any other time. Perry was in Bastrop at the heart of the fires shortly after landing. His rivals are attacking him for missing the DeMint event, but I'm detecting blowback already on that point. It is less than presidential looking to attack a governor dealing with a natural disaster of epic proportion.

– As Barack Obama gets ready to unveil his jobs plan, Mitt Romney is going to do the same and capitalize on the President's lack of new ideas. At the same time, there is one man without a job in America today of note — Ed Rollins. He is stepping back from the Bachmann race saying he is too old for it. At the same time, he's saying the race is a Romney vs. Perry race with Bachmann in third. I'd agree. And Bachmann's numbers are steadily, but slowly declining. These five debates will be interesting.

– Obama's Falling Poll Numbers – Tough new poll numbers for the President – new lows in approval and under water even with under-30s. The only two bright spots – 62% approve of his approach to terrorism and 70% say they like him personally – but POTUS is well below where Reagan and Clinton were at this point.

– Jobs Speech at Joint Session – All eyes on the jobs speech Thursday, with a premium on big new ideas with bipartisan appeal – especially a public-private infrastructure bank. The big question is whether even GOP ideas like cutting the corporate tax or overall tax form will gain Republican support – or is opposition to Obama their priority at all costs. If so, they'll open themselves to Obama's 'Give em Hell Barry' campaign script – trying to focus voter anger on GOP hyper-partisanship. But jobs and the economy can't wait for a election cycle, so here's hoping they wake up to the need to find some common ground.

– GOP Debate – Romney's issuing a hundred-plus page jobs plan in advance of the President’s speech, Bachmann's lost Ed Rollins and Perry is schooling up for his first debate with a bull’s-eye on his back while battling wildfires at home. This is the first real week of the GOP race.

Editor’s Note: The blog is a place for a freewheeling exchange of ideas and opinions. CNN does not endorse anything said by its contributors.

soundoff(7 Responses)

john dahodi

Why Rick Perry and other Republican Governors are begging for the federal help to recover from their natural disasters? when their own fellow Tea-Party and other right wing members are bragging day and nights not to use an extra penny without budgetary provision, and most of them they are telling Obama to cut general fund for poor for helping natural calamity victims. Remember, these people have given clean chit for more than 8 years to Bush-Cheney to wedge un-wanted wars without even accounting any penny for these wars; which have not only cost us trillion of dollars but have bankrupted America and the most of the globe. Can we listen these people any more?

September 6, 2011 at 2:57 pm |

Dave Francis

President Obama is to give a speech on Thursday on revitalizing our infrastructure, by repairing bridges and highways? With millions of illegal aliens in construction, through criminal Contractors using cheap labor, is Obama going to enact Rep. Lamar Smith’s bill H.R. 2164? Is the People’s president going to halt this travesty of our laws, by enforcing E-Verify.

Don't think for one minute your job is not in peril. Not for one moment should you think that the lowest income of the job market, is only sucked up by illegal aliens. Some of the 20 million plus illegal aliens squatting here, have graduated to higher paying jobs in all industries and occupations. They are not just mowing a lawn, or a bus boy in a restaurant, as they have been hired into manufacturing jobs, in construction, the higher entertainment industry employment as Casino workers. Hundreds of thousands have been accepted into trade unions, taking jobs from electricians, air conditioning and plumbers. Countless number of American citizens and green card holders, have forfeited their businesses as other Contractors have underbid their work by using illegal aliens, so that many dependable companies have been unable pay their insurance, taxes and living expenses. These are not isolated cases, as the epidemic has spread nationwide as the theft goes on?

The issue of illegal immigration is a very serious situation, which not only affects jobs, but the economy as well. Last year’s appraised the cost of subsidizing a part 20 million or more illegal migrants and immigrants was $113 Billion dollars. This has exposed the federal and State payouts that cover the main expenditures of education, health care and the penal system. This is just a limited assessment by the well known conservative think tank of the "Heritage foundation." The issue of illegal immigration is boiling over between Governor of Texas Rick Perry and Mitt Romney, who must find middle ground on this ugly situation, that grown in intensity over three decades. Rick Perry has a poor D- grading of on this controversial subject that affects us all, then even Mitt Romney also has a poor showing of D-. Neither presidential politician has shown any intensity in fighting the illegal alien invasion.

Whereas, Rep. Michele Bachmann comes first in all Immigration stances, as does the millions of people that have joined the TEA PARTY. Rick Perry doesn't support the fence, separating our country from the unceasing invasion of economic illegal aliens from the South. Perry also opposed a standing military presence along the border, as exactly the same as the Democrats and President Obama. Rep. Romney's speech to the Republican Hispanic National Assembly didn't mention illegal immigration, but carefully exhibited in his speech "that he was great proponent of legal immigration." he also said in his speech, "Our country must do a better job of securing its borders and as president, I will. That means completing construction of a high-tech fence and investing in adequate manpower and resources."

Make your calls starting today at every reluctant Senator and House Representative. Tell them you want them to vote for Lamar Smith's sponsorship of H.R. 2164, The Legal Workforce Act, as each party has its own agenda. The Republican establishment agenda is to crush any law which cuts off their access to cheap labor. The Democrats and its Liberal placement, is to gain millions of new voters–LEGAL or ILLEGAL. Start calling because it might be your job on the line, with an estimated 8 million in jobs right now. American blacks have had had a terrible time locating good jobs, with national unemployment hovering around 10 percent and black males unemployment surging to a staggering 17.6 percent, followed closely by Hispanics at around 13.1%, while illegal aliens seem to have held jobs, with 0ver 8 million still hired. Use your mouse and click on the Judicial Watch website and read the disgusting statistics on corruption in Washington and the State where you live? Read the daily national and rural newspapers and media reports on the whole seething articles at the "American Patrol" website, illustrating the facts on this ugly dilemma of illegal immigration occupation. All the facts and no more lies that threaten the Liberals and open border crazies can be found at "NumbersUSA."

September 6, 2011 at 3:42 pm |

afrommi

For the most part, Republican are OK when the public dole is for them. When they do not like it is when it is for the poor or for tax cuts for the middle class or for unemployment benefits for workers displaced by Bush's administration policies. When they are in dire straights they will take it away from everybody else. They are hypocrites and they do not care about anyone who is not part of the 20% who control 97% of the wealth.

September 6, 2011 at 7:23 pm |

afrommi

How do I know when is my comment going to be published?

September 6, 2011 at 7:23 pm |

blathering at the mouth

Apparently, you don't know.😉 Very frustrating to say the least. The biggest problem is the economy. The economy is keeping families apart. Families need to be together. It's the only way they work. Very important. Parents should not have to split up to raise a family – counter intuitive don't you think? Many families in this economy have been hit hard. It starts with one member having to move for work and send money to the others. That's what immigration is all about. Families need to be together. I don't want to watch CNN on my iPhone. And kids shouldn't have to talk to their fathers on skype.